Programme Specification
A statement of the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin a
taught programme of study leading to an award from
The University of Sheffield
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Programme Title
Chemistry
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Programme Code
CHMT08
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JACS Code
F100
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Level of Study
Postgraduate
5a
Final Qualification
Master of Science (MSc)
5b
QAA FHEQ Level
7 (Masters)
6a
Intermediate Qualification(s)
Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip)
6b
QAA FHEQ Level
7 (PG Dip)
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Teaching Institution (if not Sheffield)
Not applicable
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Faculty
Science
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Department
Chemistry
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Other Departments involved in
teaching the programme
None
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Mode(s) of Attendance
Full-time
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Duration of the Programme
1 year
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Accrediting Professional or Statutory
Body
None
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Date of production/revision
December 2014, Revised March 2016
15. Background to the programme and subject area
Chemistry occupies a central position in modern science. The behaviour of atoms and molecules underpins our
understanding of almost all the phenomena in the world around us, and in particular large parts of physics and
biology. The applications of Chemistry in modern technology include medicine, forensic science, art restoration,
solar energy, environmental control, agriculture, novel materials and many others. It is not surprising that
Chemistry graduates command a diverse range of professional career opportunities closely related to the
discipline.
This Department has very successful BSc and MChem degree courses, which cater for students focussing on a
variety of career paths. In particular, the MChem is designed for students who foresee careers as professional
chemists, either in industry or in academia. However, there are groups of students who have the ability and
desire to learn the skills that the MChem teaches, and have those high-level career designs, but who are not
eligible for a place on that particular course. The MSc in Chemistry is an alternative way for these groups of
students to access these skills.
The diversity of Chemistry places stringent requirements on Departments providing a chemical education. A
successful department must be research-active, and must have expertise across the subject in inorganic,
organic and physical chemistry, and moreover in applied areas such as materials and biological chemistry, since
these are at the interface of important new technologies. This Department has an international reputation in
research, and the expertise of the staff covers the whole breadth of the subject. The programme enables
students to tailor their particular programmes of study to their individual needs through a wide choice of optional
components within the lectured modules, and contains a substantial research project which is carried out in one
of the laboratories of the academic staff in the Department.
More information about the Department, the staff, and admissions is to be found on the Web at
http://www.shef.ac.uk/chemistry/.
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16. Programme aims
The aims of the MSc Chemistry programme are to give able students who start with a BSc-level knowledge of
chemistry a greater degree of specialised knowledge and research experience that will equip them for either a
PhD or a science-based career path that requires a Masters level understanding of the subject. The students
will gain valuable experience in running a research project, teamwork, independent learning and will be able to
demonstrate those skills to prospective employers.
In particular, the course aims to:
1.
Prepare students for a professional career or for a research degree in Chemistry by giving them
advanced research-led teaching at the frontiers of the subject as well as a substantial research project (MSc
only);
2.
Inculcate a greater knowledge and deeper understanding of particular areas of chemistry by giving
exposure to advanced, research-led teaching materials;
3.
Enhance competence in practical chemistry and in the fundamentals of research methods;
4.
Improve and augment the existing transferable skills of students, especially in areas of data acquisition
and handling, literature searching, report writing and oral presentational skills;
5.
Equip students with the experience and knowledge to make distinctive contributions in future careers in
chemistry.
17. Programme learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
K1
Topics at the frontiers of research in inorganic and analytical chemistry;
K2
Topics at the frontiers of research in organic and biological chemistry;
K3
Topics at the frontiers of research in physical and materials chemistry;
K4
The basic methodology of research;
K5
A current advanced research topic. (MSc only)
Skills and other attributes:
S1
Enhanced practical laboratory skills;
S2
In the application of fundamental principles to the solution of chemical problems at a research level;
S3
In the planning of research;
S4
In presentation of research results;
S5
Demonstrating competence in written and oral communication;
S6
In quantitative and qualitative problem solving, including situations with limited information;
S7
In numeracy and computation, including error analysis, estimations of orders of magnitude, correct choice
of modules, and different methods for presentation of data;
S8
In the use of information sources, including information retrieval;
S9
In the use of computers and information technology;
S10
Demonstrating ability to work as a member of a team;
S11
To work effectively, to plan work, and to manage their time.
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18. Teaching, learning and assessment
Development of the learning outcomes is promoted through the following teaching and learning
methods:
The MSc course comprises 180 credits of study, which is divided between 120 credits of taught material and a
60 credit research project.
The bulk of the taught material is delivered through lectures which are supported by workshops (K 1-3). These
take the form of two 40 credit modules. Both of these modules are run over the 2 semesters, and students will
choose from a range of topics in each semester that cover the full breadth of chemistry. The internal structure
of the modules comprises a wide range of independent courses (segments) that are organised to allow the
students maximum flexibility in selecting subjects that match their strengths and interest. The lecture modules
are designed to stretch students’ knowledge and understanding to more advanced levels and into cutting-edge
areas of research. Each lecture segment is supported by two class workshops, which develop students’ abilities
to apply their knowledge of the fundamental principles to solving problems, and other subject related skills. (S2,
5, 7, 8, 9).
The students will take part in 2 open-ended laboratory-based mini-projects; one in theoretical/computational/
physical (i.e. non-synthetic) chemistry, and one in synthetic organic or inorganic chemistry, giving an
introduction to advanced experimental methods. The students perform the projects in groups under the
direction of a staff project director, organising their own divisions of time and labour in order to achieve success.
(K3, S1-11).
In preparation for their main 60-credit research project, students will take a 15 credit “Research and
Presentation Skills” module, which will develop the essential skills of literature searching, scientific writing, and
oral presentation.
The 60-credit research project (MSc only) is carried out during the summer, and will be carried out in new, stateof-the-art research laboratories, under the direction of a Chemistry member of academic staff. These projects
can lead to research publications in peer-reviewed journals, and played an important part in fulfilling learning
outcomes K4, 5 and S1-3,8-11.
Opportunities to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes are provided through the following
assessment methods:
Lecture modules are assessed by formal examinations, in which each segment of the module has one question.
All the questions are structured and are presented with an indicative marking scheme. The questions are
designed to test not only the students’ knowledge and understanding of the subject, but also their ability to apply
that knowledge to solving problems. The formal examinations assess the learning outcomes K1-3 and S5-7.
The workshops are a formative assessment, where the students’ knowledge is reinforced, and essential
problem solving skills are developed.
The two mini-projects are assessed via a carefully structured scheme in which students submit written reports
and give oral presentations, in such a way that a large variety of specialist and generic skills are tested. K4, S111.
Research projects are assessed using a combination of oral presentations, panel interviews and research
reports, as well as an assessment of practical ability by the project supervisor. The assessment scheme is
carefully structured and uses well-defined criteria.
19. Reference points
The learning outcomes have been developed to reflect the following points of reference:
Subject Benchmark Statements
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/AssuringStandardsAndQuality/subject-guidance/Pages/Subject-benchmarkstatements.aspx
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (2008)
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/The-framework-for-higher-educationqualifications-in-England-Wales-and-Northern-Ireland.aspx
University Strategic Plan
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/strategicplan
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Learning and Teaching Strategy (2011-16)
http://www.shef.ac.uk/lets/staff/lts
The Departmental Learning and Teaching Strategy.
20. Programme structure and regulations
The taught part of the course consists of two lecture modules (40 credits each), a taught laboratory module (25
credits) and a research and presentation skill module (15 credits). All of these modules are conducted over both
conventional university semesters.
These taught modules contribute 120 credits to the programme.
Over the summer, the students undertake an extended research project. This project contributes a further 60
credits, making 180 credits for the programme as a whole.
Students registered for the PG Dip are offered the same combinations of taught modules (120 credits in total)
but do not undertake a research project.
Through the range of segments offered (without restriction) in the two lecture modules, and (where applicable)
through the medium of the research project, the MSc and PG Dip programmes offer extensive student choice to
sample the full breadth of chemistry.
Detailed information about the structure of programmes, regulations concerning assessment and progression
and descriptions of individual modules are published in the University Calendar available on-line at
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/programmeregulationsfinder/ and http://www.shef.ac.uk/govern/calendar/regs.html.
21. Student development over the course of study
The student, already having a good core knowledge of chemical principles from a BSc-level degree, is given a
large degree of choice from a list of courses that span the core three areas of organic, inorganic and physical
Chemistry, the interfaces between these areas (such as materials chemistry), and the interfaces with other
disciplines (such as biology and physics). These Masters-level segments are designed to extend the students’
knowledge, and their ability to apply that knowledge to solve problems at the frontier of the subject.
Both the laboratory module and the research and presentation skills module develop the students’ transferable
skills (written and oral communication skills, literature and database searching, planning and organisation,
computer skills etc), so that the students are both attractive to employers, and are best placed to get the
maximum benefit from their research project.
The research project is the culmination of the students’ prior work and development, and allows the students to
develop a substantial degree of independence by taking ownership of their project and developing their own
ideas.
22. Criteria for admission to the programme
Detailed information regarding admission to programmes is available from the University’s On-Line Prospectus
at http://www.shef.ac.uk/courses/.
23. Additional information
This specification represents a concise statement about the main features of the programme and should be
considered alongside other sources of information provided by the teaching department(s) and the University. In
addition to programme specific information, further information about studying at The University of Sheffield can
be accessed via our Student Services web site at http://www.shef.ac.uk/ssid.
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